Staying fit is no easy task.  People need motivation in all forms, from a gadget that monitors your progress to an app that allows social integration so your pals can cheer you on.  And this is the reason why fitness apps and devices are booming.  So let’s look at the latest developments in the SmartBody world, maybe something will finally pique your interest enough to get you off the couch.

Muzik

Disruptive innovator Jason Hardi founded Muzik, an innovative company that aims to transform the way people listen to music.  Hardi is pioneering a new space called Social Smartware which aims to seamlessly connect consumer electronic devices, content and social media platforms to make music instantly discoverable and shareable.

With that, the company will be launching one of the first socially connected smart headphones later this year.  It will reportedly feature the first and only intelligent headphone system, the ability to instantly share, discover, and control music with the touch of a finger, crystal clear sound and total noise isolation, along with an iPhone and Android app that learns while you listen.

“While the music industry has seen its challenges, technological advances have also created a world of opportunity, which Muzik is seizing to create an entirely new category,” said Hardi. “Headphones will never again just be for listening to music or talking on the phone – our headphones will improve the way we socially discover, share, listen and experience music. In addition to music exploration, I look forward to working with the developer community to create amazing applications leveraging smart headphones.”

Though this may seem like a device that serves only entertainment purposes, it can be used to accompany you in your morning jog or daily walk.  You can share your workout playlist with your friends, which could also inspire them to get up and move.  Or you can discover your friends’ workout tunes that help them stay in shape.

Kreyos

This Indiegogo startup may be everything a fitness buff needs in a smartwatch.  It features an ultra Low Power MCU, ultra Low Power 1.26 Inch Memory LCD Screen 144 x 168 pixel, 4 Waterproof Buttons, vibrating motor, ANT/ANT+, Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR and 4.0 (Low Energy), 3-Axis Gyrometer, 3-Axis Accelerometer, Water Resistant Mini Speaker, Water Resistant MEMS Microphone with HIGH SNR and Flat Wide Band frequency response, Water resistant for swimming and shower (ATMs: TBD), 150 mah Lithium Rechargeable Battery (7 days battery life), and USB Interface for Charging and Watch OS update.

You may think that Kreyos is just another smartwatch, like Pebble or the Sony Smartwatch 2, but it’s not.  This device actually lets you enjoy your smartphone without having to bring your smartphone for a run.  It lets you use voice and gestures to control the functions on your Kreyos – to control your phone.  You can answer calls, send text messages, change music by using your voice or with the flick of your wrist.  Plus, you can either wear your Kreyos on your wrist like a watch, as a necklace with a lanyard accessory, or just clip it on your clothing, belt, or bag with the belt clip accessory.

If you’re interested in this product, you can still contribute to the funding until August 8.  It has raised over $1 million in funding though its goal was only $100,000.

Sonsoria Smart Sock Fitness Tracker

If you want something that not only tracks the steps you’ve taken or how fast and far you’ve run, but also tells you if you’re in rhythm or the way you run can injure you, then Sensoria Smart Sock Fitness Tracker is the connected device for you.  The package consists of a smart sock that is completely made of fabric, which can go through wash & dry cycles like your favorite pair of socks, an electronic anklet that magnetically snaps on the cuff of the sock, and mobile application that monitors and guides you through real-time audio cues.

This system has the potential to bring out your best self as it analyzes the way you walk, run or jog and tell you if you’re landing on your feet correctly to avoid injuries, reduce impact on soles, and run pain-free.  You can use the system even if you leave your phone at home, leaving you to run worry- and clutter-free.

Because the e-textile sensors are placed on the socks, they can accurately measure step, altitude and calorie counter as well as gauge how you land on your feet, and it has a cadence metronome so you can stay in rhythm while you run, jog or walk, and also measure your stride length, compared with others like you so you can improve your performance. The best part about this system is that it tracks and analyzes your performance so you can see if you are able to maintain or improve your routine.  And you can also share your progress with others in the Sensoria community as well as get useful information from them.

You can fund the project on Indiegogo if you are interested in this fitness system.

Make sure you check out our collection of Smart Devices and Smart Gadgets on Springpad!